Nitrate
Mustang SUD
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0533 ppm | 8 | 6 | ND - 0.230 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.434 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0475 ppm - 1.66 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.141 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0500 ppm - 0.528 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0853 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0500 ppm - 0.222 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.132 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0348 ppm - 0.535 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.110 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.0478 ppm - 0.314 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm
The legal limit for nitrate, established in 1962, was developed to protect infants from acute methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening disorder of oxygen transport in the body. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus.
ppm = parts per million
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-16 | Q1401487008 | 0.0335 ppm |
| 2014-01-16 | Q1401487007 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2014-01-16 | Q1401487006 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2014-01-16 | Q1401487005 | 0.0250 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419374008 | 0.0680 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | Q1419374007 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2014-12-18 | Q1460520007 | ND |
| 2014-12-18 | Q1460520001 | ND |
| 2015-02-02 | Q1503830001 | 0.706 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | Q1512608004 | 0.0520 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | Q1512608003 | 0.0475 ppm |
| 2015-07-06 | Q1525495003 | 1.66 ppm |
| 2015-07-06 | Q1525495002 | 0.0560 ppm |
| 2015-07-06 | Q1525495001 | 0.0815 ppm |
| 2016-01-07 | Q1600449003 | 0.0900 ppm |
| 2016-01-07 | Q1600449005 | 0.0705 ppm |
| 2016-01-07 | Q1600449002 | 0.0550 ppm |
| 2016-01-07 | Q1600449001 | 0.0515 ppm |
| 2016-01-07 | Q1600449004 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2016-04-06 | Q1613608001 | 0.528 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | Q1712369001 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | Q1712369017 | 0.0565 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | Q1712369016 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | Q1712369015 | 0.0790 ppm |
| 2017-10-04 | Q1749048007 | 0.222 ppm |
| 2017-10-04 | Q1749048003 | 0.0540 ppm |
| 2018-04-05 | Q1814178003 | 0.535 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | Q1827459021 | 0.0481 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | Q1827459017 | 0.0595 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | Q1827459018 | 0.0519 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | Q1827459019 | 0.0348 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | Q1827459020 | 0.0645 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | Q1900592021 | 0.0478 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | Q1900592014 | 0.0540 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | Q1900592003 | 0.0555 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | Q1900592013 | 0.0499 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | Q1900592001 | 0.136 ppm |
| 2019-10-02 | Q1971111001 | 0.314 ppm |